Cause: Fear of communist expansion. Effect: US intervention in Greece and Turkey, and a broader commitment to containing communism globally.

Cause: Soviet attempt to force Western powers out of Berlin. Effect: Berlin Airlift, increased tensions, and the formal division of Germany.

Cause: North Korea's invasion of South Korea. Effect: US intervention, a bloody stalemate, and the continued division of Korea.

Cause: Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba. Effect: Brink of nuclear war, eventual removal of missiles, and a period of détente.

Cause: US policy of containment and the domino theory. Effect: Prolonged conflict, heavy casualties, and the eventual communist victory in Vietnam.

Cause: Ideological conflict and the desire for military superiority. Effect: Constant threat of nuclear war, massive military spending, and the development of increasingly destructive weapons.

Cause: Fear of Soviet expansion in Europe. Effect: Collective security for Western Europe, increased tensions with the Soviet Union, and the formation of the Warsaw Pact.

Cause: Growing discontent in Eastern Europe and reforms in the Soviet Union. Effect: Reunification of Germany and a symbolic end to the Cold War.

Cause: Economic stagnation, political repression, and nationalist movements. Effect: End of the Cold War, the emergence of new independent states, and a shift in the global balance of power.

Cause: Desire to rebuild Europe and prevent the spread of communism. Effect: Economic recovery in Western Europe and strengthened ties with the United States.

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by proxy wars, espionage, and ideological conflict.

A US foreign policy strategy to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War.

A doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

A conflict where opposing powers use third parties as substitutes instead of fighting each other directly.

The ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War.

A competition between nations to develop superior nuclear weapons technology and stockpiles.

A military alliance formed in 1949 by the US, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

A military alliance formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and several Eastern European nations in response to NATO.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, capable of delivering nuclear warheads across vast distances.

A US policy, established in 1947, of providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism.

US President who implemented the policy of containment and authorized the use of atomic bombs on Japan.

British Prime Minister who coined the term 'Iron Curtain' to describe the division of Europe.

Leader of the Soviet Union during the early Cold War period.

US President during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Soviet leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The leader of Communist China, allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The leader of North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China during the Vietnam War.

US President who took a strong stance against the Soviet Union in the late Cold War period.

Soviet leader whose reforms contributed to the end of the Cold War.

US Secretary of State who proposed the Marshall Plan, aimed at rebuilding Europe after WWII.